One-man posthole digger



Feb. 8, 1949.

c. M. cox

ONE-MAN POST HOLE DIGGER 4 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed July 18, 1947 Inventor Clarence M. Cox

Feb. 8,1949. c. M. cox

I ONE-MAN POST HOLE DIGGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1947 Inventor Clarenge M. Cox

@i I I Attorneys Feb. 8, 1949. c. M. cox

ONE-MAN POST HOLE DIGGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 18, 1941 Inventor Clarence M. Cox

C. M. COX

ONE-MAN POST HOLE DIGGER- Feb. 8, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 18. .1947

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emi ter; qb ect Q h e iv miim s; o pr v de; means ?s ecti el -"rais n and ower ng; a ie iie 19 m ie er; s li nt y bi s-ma: said i ee andflowe ineme ns.

ei qieewbiec this n ntion is to enq isie efizanwwdfirectfl t the niiq h said-fl having a perch pivoted thereto and means: tteii nean l el n se di er h wh e he er ha ueii. the ame: 7

A furth rbi ci .q r h sw nv tion is. to provide mean m: asii tineth v au er reta ning means. KQQ -h pre e e min d t ave v o de t at: the Sit-id au er means will; always bersi bstantiallm enpendieularto the grade line.

fur he hiec pf t is; invention is; topro i a an improved driveshaft; means which is tale; scoping-1y; adjustable as well as a slip clutch; mea swhi-eh isover ridden unde1',pr;edetermmed; luesv of: orque.

Ajst-il lfurthen object of this. invention; is: to. provide, an eflicient, devioe of the. Qharaotetdeer scribed; which, operates smoothly, rapidly: and eX-m nemeIv satisfactorily.

An i lary Qbiects and-Vfeatures ot novelty? shall: become apparent to those skilled: in, the art, in following; the. description of the preferred em.- bgd-irnent of thepresent invention, illustrated: inv the, accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1- is an elevational side view of the pre=- feared form. of, the present invention showing the. ame in. use with a conventional tractor;

figure 2' is a plan view of-the invention disclosed: in Figure 1:;

Eigurer 3; isf a. plan view of' the actuatir-igvv and: control, mechanism forming part of: the present invention;

Eigiire 4- isa fragmentary plan. view of thev de-. taiL-ofconstnuction shown in Figure. 3-v with. parts emoved: for: clarity;

Figure 5 is a longitudinalsectional view ot thet tent d selqsc in F ur and ta en subee v ia edz t e ew th. meansr votauy. a k- 2; ure 6 is an emargei ersigeqtii eem02122152; Weeks-eel. ivi tmee w si n; on-JP to t .,.i

Figure 9 isa front view of the detail of conste lation shown in we 8;, sl owirr v qsii -qn fq zfii cer T ER-W! i t il aur i so. t.

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de. View 915* erm e P t-t sent n ent n, na sh ne br e erene Qharap rlss are. used t ou hout. to; n; dicate simi ar? e emen e the e 'lih s: nvent onhas. been; co ceived an 16::- ope to provide a d viee whieh is. primar la an attachment for tractors or other prime movers; 0 a he ma n: purpos so t e present: nvert.- on to, rov de a device w ich is: readily alt-t taehaple to conventional tractor and, whiphi may? ie. holesiextremeiy rapid-1y and; accurately. The present invention is: capable f dig in holes in a straight line even any type at terrain-v oni a toaster-may,successtullyyopenata By use fure then of: the present invention, the: operator otthe trap-ton need: not turn tractor.- around: or ad-, just, the or etc: to. suit:- the said tetra-in! since an: the adin 3 1%: s; ca r ed. out; in the prete t, n: VQJ)1OH. l I

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14 respectively is provided with tie members 16 and I8 for supporting said rods in a substantially triangular relation. Braces 2B and 22 are also provided on said frame for the obvious purpose of stiffening the same.

A support is provided on the tractor for the purpose of receiving various control members and links thereon. This said support may be seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and is composed of various bars whose function and purpose will be brought out as the description proceeds. Going to Figure 1, there is disclosed a short member 26 welded or otherwise secured to the member 28 (forming a portion of said support). It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 1 that the elements 26 and 28 are associated with a fiat 4 ing it in a relatively immovable relation with the said strap. A second bolt 16 extends not only through the strap 12 but also through a slot 18 in said plate 68. Of course, washers 80 may be interposed in the system wherever sound engineering dictates. Reference is made particularlynow to Figure 14 wherein the particular pivot means shows up in detail. A rotating member 82 is journaled on the'shaft i6 and is provided with sloping spaces. 'The interior portion of the said rotating member slopes to the smallest value and it is at that point that the slot 76 metal bar which rests upon a draw-bar 32. a The element 30 is detachably secured to the said draw-bar 32 by conventions bolts 34. These bolts afiord a rapid means for detachably receiving the invention on a tractor.

A bracket 36 is secured to the terminal portion of the frame members l2 and I4 and supports 38 are utilized in assisting to retain the said bracket in a fixed position. These members 38 are fastened to the frame ID by means of a pin 40 which extends to each of the said members 38 and through the frame member l0. A perch 42 is pivotally received on the end of the said bracket 36 by any suitable conventional pivoting means such as the short bolts 45.

Means for pivotally mounting an auger or other digging instrument is provided on the said perch 42. It is noted at this point that the auger retaining means to be described subsequently is so balanced and pivoted that it assumes the behavior of a pendulum, or waist being drawn vertically downward by the force of gravity. Of course, this is true only when not acted upon by some outside force such as the various adjustments within the purview ofthis invention. A back plate 46 is secured to a selected portion of the said perch 42 by any conventional means such as bolts 48 and a slide member 56 is received therebetween. This slide member has a clamp 52 formedtherein and a locking bolt 54 associated with the said clamp.

A relatively heavy gear case 56 is received within the clamp 52, the said clamp engaging suitable shoulder portions 58 for a firmgrip.

A U-shaped member 60 having bolts 62 extending through the legs thereof is resiliently mounted to the bracket 36. This resilient mountirig consists of a rod 54 extending through the bracket 36 and through the U-shaped member 60. A spring is then interposed between the said bracket and the said U-shaped member. Of course, this spring constantly biases the said U-shaped member 60 from the bracket 36. The screws 62 engage the gear case 56 just below the gear receiving enlargement therein. (See Figure 1). I

A slotted plate 68, see Figure 8, is rigidly received between the said frame members l2 and I4 and partially held therein by the utility of the above described bolts 40. In securing the said bracket 36 to the members l2 and I4, a strap 16 extending beneath the saidbracket 36 and around the members l2 and I4, not only assists in retaining the said'bracket 36 but also helps to secure the plate 68in the desired location. A strap 12 is also received around the gear case 56 and it is about this point that the gear case ispivoted. A bolt 14 extends through the strap 12 and embraces the said gear case thereby holdengages the rotating member. Of course, it may be readily appreciated that several types of motion are permitted of in this type of pivot. Pivotal travel is permitted about the longitudinal axis of the member 68 as well as rotative motion about the shaft or bolt 16 as an axis. Since the gear case has been described as secure to this point (the strap 12) the above mentioned pivotal or pendulum-like motion is permissible. The said gear case 56 may assume positions as shown in the dotted lines of Figure 9. Also in Figure 9 it is apparent that a plurality of ap ertures 86 are provided for the purpose of receiving sundry equipment therein, if so desired.

Taking now Figure 1, there is disclosed a plate 38 secured to the said member 28 (forming part of said support) and arcuate tracks 90 havin a slot 92 therein is secured to said plate 88. There are two of these constructions provided, oppositely disposed, for the purpose of receiving and guiding the said frame links or members l2 and M respectively therein. Brackets 94 are secured to each of the said frame members [2 and I4 and lugs 96 project therefrom. These lugs are received in the said slot 92 and act as riders therein.

An anchor member 98 is supplied in the said support and an arcuate friction disc is secured thereto. A lever I62 is pivoted to the said anchor member 98 and engages the said disc I06. Pitman rods I84 extend from portions of the said lever I02 to the lugs 56. Inspection of Fig-- ure' 3 clearly discloses this structure. It will be noted from this figure that by urging the lever (02 about its pivot point, the frame member Ill may be rotated about its longitudinal axis in order to tilt the gear box 56 to a selected position. In certain types of farm land and over certain types of terrains, tractors lean to various angular inclinations and the angle might be greater than can be compensated by the above described pivotal movement. When this is the case, the bar I02 may be pulled and set to a certain value of angularity thereby permitting holes to be dug parallel to the pull of gravity.

Means are also provided for pivoting the perch 42 about the pivot point 45 as an axis. This means consists of a collar )8 secured to the upper portion of said gear box 55 and a rod H0 secured thereto. The other end of the said rod H0 is engaged in a suitable clamp H2 which is itself seated on a crank H4. This crank H4 is pivoted to the member 28 by means of a bolt or some other suitable pivot pin. Of course, by actuating the lever arm or crank H4, the force is transmitted through the gear box 56 to the bracketheld perch 42. This adjustment is provided for the obvious purpose'of ascertaining proper results frame, gear box and other associated mechanisms about the lugs 96 as an axis. This control is effected by means of the following structure: Eye bolts are utilized in retaining the braces 38 to the bracket 36. These eye bolts II 6 receive a chain or other securing means I I8 therein. After joining to a single actuating cord I 26, the said cord extends about a pulley I22, situated on the member 28 thence about a sheave I24. This sheave is secured to a shaft I26 which is journaled between the support 98 and support member 28. A crank I29 is pivoted to the support 98 anda cable I36 is secured thereto and around a collar I32 also secured to the shaft I26. Of course, by pivoting the crank or lever I29 about its pivot point I34 the cord I20 may be wound around the sheave I24 thereby lifting or lowerin the frame III. A resilient biasing means, preferably a spring I36 is secured between the crank I29 and a suitable bracket I68, secured to the support 98. By this expedient, an efficient, economical and satisfactory return means is provided for the framelifting device. Inspection of Figure 4 discloses a pulley I40 secured to the shaft I26, which pulley might be utilized with a belt I42 to assist in lifting the frame I6. Of course, the belt I42 could conventionally be secured to a suitable power take-off provided in the majority of conventional tractors. Going now to the auger which is preferably employed in this invention, a conventional one I45 is utilized. The gear box 56 is provided with a central shaft I46 having a beveled gear splined or otherwise fixed thereto. Of course, suitable thrust bearings, unshown, are associated with the shaft I46 for retaining the same in the desired position. The said shaft I46 is provided with upper and lower splined terminal portions for easily and conveniently receiving the anger at one end thereof. The splined portion I56 of the shaft I46 may be provided with an aperture therein for receiving a set screw I52 therethrough which also extends through the auger I45. This construction permits of detachable relation relative to securing of the auger to the shaft I46. A second shaft I 56 is suitably journaled in the said gear box 56 and a bevel gear I58 is secured to a terminal portion thereof. This last mentioned bevel gear engages the said bevel gear I48 and is drivingly connected thereto. A bifurcated member I59 is provided at the other end of said. shaft I66 and forms a part of the universal joint I66. joint I66 is provided on a drive shaft I 62. Inspection of Figure '7 discloses that the said shaft I62 is also splined at the end thereof and a collar I64 is telescopingly received on the splined portion I66 of said shaft. Of course, the collar has splined bore I68 permitting of slidable, telescoping engagement between said sleeve and said shaft.

A slip clutch is provided in this connection. This slip clutch may be made in the following manner. The end portion of the said sleeve I64 is threaded at I and a nut I12 is provided thereon. A spring, of a predetermined tensional value I14 engages the said nut I12 and a collar The mating portion of the said universal I16 which is itself splined to the sleeve I64. This last mentioned splined connection is effected by the utility of a pin I18 in suitable slots provided not only in the sleeve I64but also in the collar I16. Gear teeth I are provided on the collar I16 and on a plate I62. This plate has a reduced extension I84 protruding therefrom which is journaled in a bore I86, in said sleeve I64. Of course, by this construction when a predetermined torque is applied to the said shaft I 62, the clutch will be overridden. There will be noted a bifurcated extension I88 on said plate I82 which also forms a portion of the universal joint. This universal joint I96 extends through a suitable, conventional power take-off of the tractor which is employed in operation of the invention. Due to the various adjustments described above, this type of drive shaft which is extensible, an essential feature in the present invention.

Certain braces I96 are secured between the control assembly or support for the purpose of lending rigidity to the invention.

While there has been described and illustrated but a single preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes including omissions, additions and rearrangements of elements may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claim,

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A hole digger comprising a frame, a support adapted to be secured to a tractor having arcuate tracks thereon with slots in said tracks, lugs pro- .lecting from said frame and disposed in said slots, a lever pivoted to said support, pitman rods connecting said lever and said frame to rotate said frame, a bracket secured to said frame, a perch pivoted to said bracket, a housing with a transmission therein pivotally mounted on said perch for supporting and actuating an auger, means for pivotally adjusting said perch comprising a rod secured to said auger retaining means, and a crank pivoted to said support receiving said rod, an extensible shaft, a spring urged clutch in said shaft, and means drivingly connecting said shaft and said transmission, a flexible member attached to said frame, and means mounted on said support for Winding and playing out said flexible member to raise and lower said frame in a pivotal manner about said lugs as an axis.

CLARENCE M. COX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:-

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,754,348 Brown Apr. 15, 1930 2,321,680 Houston June 15, 1943 

